N.Y. Business Corporation Law Section 304
Statutory designation of secretary of state as agent for service of process

(a)

The secretary of state shall be the agent of every domestic corporation and every authorized foreign corporation upon whom process against the corporation may be served.

(b)

No domestic or foreign corporation may be formed or authorized to do business in this state under this chapter unless in its certificate of incorporation or application for authority it designates the secretary of state as such agent.

(c)

Any designation by a domestic or a foreign corporation of the secretary of state as such agent, which designation is in effect on the effective date of this chapter, shall continue. Every domestic or foreign corporation, existing or authorized on the effective date of this chapter, which has not designated the secretary of state as such agent, shall be deemed to have done so. Any designation prior to the effective date of this chapter by a foreign corporation of an agent other than the secretary of state shall terminate on the effective date of this chapter.

(d)

Any designated post office address to which the secretary of state shall mail a copy of process served upon him or her as agent of a domestic corporation or a foreign corporation, shall continue until the filing of a certificate or other instrument under this chapter directing the mailing to a different post office address and any designated email address to which the secretary of state shall email notice of the fact that process has been electronically served upon him or her as agent of a domestic corporation or foreign corporation shall continue until the filing of a certificate or other instrument under this chapter changing or deleting the email address.

Source: Section 304 — Statutory designation of secretary of state as agent for service of process, https://www.­nysenate.­gov/legislation/laws/BSC/304 (updated Mar. 27, 2026; accessed Aug. 22, 2026).

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Verified:
Aug. 22, 2026

Last modified:
Mar. 27, 2026

§ 304. Statutory designation of secretary of state as agent for service of process's source at nysenate​.gov

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